Mobile Core Network and Multi-access Edge Computing revenue rebound in 1Q 2022, according to Dell’Oro Group – iTWire

Mobile Core Network and Multi-access Edge Computing market revenues for 1Q 2022 bounced back to a positive year-over-year growth rate after decreasing in 4Q 2021—the first decline since 4Q 2017, according to market and research firm Dell’Oro Group.

According to Dell’Oro Group, MCN market growth was driven by a double-digit percentage year-over-year (Y/Y) revenue growth rate in the 5G MCN market overcoming (Y/Y) revenue declines in the 4G MCN and IMS Core markets.

Dell’Oro Group points out that the MCN market in China had a high growth rate while the MCN market excluding China had a negative growth rate for the quarter.

“With the continued aggressive build-out of 5G Standalone (SA) networks in China, the China region in 1Q 2022 substantially increased its share of the 5G MCN market over last quarter,” comments Dell’Oro Group research director Dave Bolan.

“At the end of 1Q 2022, we have identified 25 mobile network operators that have commercially launched 5G SA mobile Broadband networks (MBB) with services available to consumers. The 5G Core vendors include Cisco, Ericsson, Huawei, NEC, Nokia, Samsung, and ZTE. We have identified 150 MNOs with 5G Core contracts with the above vendors and Mavenir https://www.mavenir.com/. There are still more 5G Core contracts that vendors have acknowledged without revealing the associated MNOs,” Bolan says.

“We see fewer 5G Core network launches slated for 2022 as compared to 2021 when 16 networks were launched. However, many are being readied for 2023 launches and we project mid-single-digit percentage Y/Y growth rates for the balance of 2022,” Bolan predicts.

“One of the most anticipated and publicised 5G Core launches is Dish Wireless – the first to run 5G Core on the Public Cloud. The company is preparing to launch in many cities by mid-June 2022 to meet regulatory coverage requirements. In early May 2022, Dish had a soft launch in its first city, Las Vegas. Nokia is the primary 5G Core vendor,” Bolan says.

“Multi-access Edge Computing deployed by MNOs has barely scratched the surface in spite of all the hype, except for the China region, which has deployed thousands of MEC nodes throughout their MNO networks, with a mix of public MEC and private MEC sites.”

Dell’Oro Group highlighted the following findings in its 1Q 2022 Mobile Core Network and Multi-Access Edge Computing Report:

1. The top two vendors for the MCN, 4G MCN, and IMS Core markets were Huawei and Ericsson.

2. The top two vendors for the 5G MCN market were Huawei and ZTE.

3. Nokia and Ericsson had the highest Y/Y growth rates for the 5G MCN market coming from a low small base. However, Huawei had the highest dollar revenue gain, with a lower Y/Y growth rate coming from a larger base.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 26 May 2022.